Car-coupling.



3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ila/011102 ff PATENTED AUG. 23, 1904. J, A. HINSON, DECD. m. HINSON, ADMINISTBATBIX.

GAR COUPLING; APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, 1902- no MODEL.

Jivue if J. A. H INSON DEGD. I M. HINSON, ADMINIS'TBATRIX. I

CAR COUPLING.

APPLIOATIOI? FILE D JUNE 2,1902.

N0 MODEL. BSHEBTE-SHEET 3.

llllllllllllllllll dfidlllllllllllllll'il PATENTED AUG. 23, 1904. n

Patented August 23,1904.

p UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A.

HINSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; MARGARET HINSON ADMINIS- TRATRIX OF SAID AMES HINSON, DECEASED.

CAR-COUPLING.

' I BPEOIFIGATIONfoi'ming part of Letters Patent No. 768,365, dated August 23, 1904.

Application filed Juno 2, 1902. Serial No. 109,832. (No model.)

To all wi -0121', it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. Hmson, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar-Couplers; andl do hereby declare .that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings,- and' tothe letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

' This invention relates to'improvements in car-couplers; and the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more par-- ticularly pointed outin the appended claims.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal-vertical section of a coupler embodying my improvements, certain parts of the devices being broken away to better illustrat other parts thereof. Y Fig. 2 is a similar view with parts of the device in changed positions. Fig. 3 is a partial horizontal longitudinal section of the coupler, showing the'knuckle in" its closed position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the knuckle in its open position. Fig.- 5 is a front elevation of the coupler-with the knuckle-tailpiece shown in section. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the knuckle-locking pin. Fig-7 is an edge elevation thereof with parts broken away. 1 I

Asshown in said drawings, Adesignates a hollow draw-bar;-B, a hollow draw-bar head; C, a horizontally-swinging knuckle, which is pivoted to and between. forwardly and laterally projecting arms 7) on one side of said draw-head by means of a'vertical pin 6, and B a guide-arm or guard projecting laterally from the other side of the head. Said knuckle (J is provided with a tailpiece CQ WlIlCh extends rearwardly between the a-rmsb of the draw-head and into the interior of ,the head, as shown in Fig.3.

l) designates a locking-pinwhich passes downwardly through openings 6 b in the top and bottom walls of the draw-headsaid openings beinglocated' in a manner to hold the coupling-pinat one side of the knuckle-tailpiece and when said pin is in its lowermost sition and the knuckle closed to lock said nuckle from swinging outwardly on its pivot.

The coupling-pin is provided 'at its upper end with aflange d, which pro ects over the upper wall of the draw-head and servesto limit the downward movement of the coupling- 7 pin. Said coupling-pin is provided on its rear edge with a recess 01, the bottom of which is adapted for contact with a horizontal'stopbolt E at the rear of the opening 6, as shown in Fig. 1, said bolt preventing the complete withdrawal of the pin from the draw-head. The coupling-pin D is provided with a downwardly-facing shoulder at its front. edge,

forming a wide .upper portion D and a narrower lower portion 1), which latter is adapt-- ed to pass through the opening 5 in the lower wall of the head. The lower-or narrower endof the locking-pin isprovided with i ,a notch, forminga second downwardly-facing shoulder d,which-is,.adapted to engage a supporting-surfaceon the lower wall'of the drawhead when the coupling-pin iselevated' above the tailpiece of the knuckle, as shown in Fig. 2. When the locking-pin isin its lowermost position and the knuckle closed, the wider I upper part thereof .is in the path of the tail-' piece of the knuckle, said locking-pin serving at this time asa stop to prevent-the knuckle opening or from swingingoutwardly. ,The

knuckle-tailpiece is provided with a flat surface a, which en es the locking-bolt when the tailpiece occup es its innermost position and when the pin is in its lowermost positiom When the-"locking-pin is raisedto-bring the widened part thereof above the level of the tailpiece .of'. theknuckle, said knuckle is permitted to swing .outwardlyin a manner-to open the coupler, the tailpiece passingat-this time below the shoulder d of the locking-pin.

The rear end of the knuckle-tailpiece is provided with a laterally-curved projection 'C, which when the knuckle is in its closed position occupies a lateral opening 6 in the head in the rear of the hinge of'the' knuckle, as shown in Fig. 3. When the knuckle-isin its open position, as shown in Fig. 4;, said projection is located belowand engages the. shoulder dof the locking-pin and serves as a support forthe locking-pin, as more clearly shown in Fig. 4, it being understood that the proits outer curved surface with a stop-shoulder the'lower narrow part D of the locking-pin wall, such as to permit the forward end of the member to'bc rocked or twislod about its Wardly into its closed position, the pin is held the tailpiece of the knuckle until said tail-- -.-automatically locks the knuckle in its closed it the knuckle is in its closed the knuckle. from front to rear of the 1 her consists of a flathorizontalweb portion F, wh chis located at one side of the lockingin jection does not pass-out of engagement with the pin when the knuckle is fully open. .-It follows from this construction that whensaid locking pin is. raised with the widened upper part B thereof above the tailpiece ot' the knuckle and said knuckle is opened the extension of the tailpiece thereof supports the coupling --pin in its elevated position When, therefore, the knuckle is swung ininits' elevated position by said extension and piece has passed the widened upper end of the locking-pin into the positlon shown in Fig. 3, after which the locking-pin drops and position. The said knuckle is provided on c, which is adapted to engage when the knuckle is fully opened, as shown in Fig; 4, astopsurface 6", formed on the head to'limit the opening movement of'the knuckle. Said tailpiece and the projection C thereof are provided'with a rearwardly-facing-curved cam projection-(3 ,"wiiich is adapted to engage as the tailpiece of the knuckie moves outwardly or inwardly, and thereby shift the lower end of said pin rearwardly suificiently to clear the shoulder i thereof from the supporting surface of the bottom wall of the draw-bar and permit the lower end *ofthe locking-pin to drop through the opening 6 position, or permitthe shoulder J of said pin to engage the tailpiece or its projection if the knuckle is wholly or partially opened.

F designates as awhole an actuating member which cooperates with the locking-pin in such manner asto swing the knuckle outlWEtI'dly when the pin is lifted to bring the shou lder d thereof above the level of the tailpiece of Said actuating member extends \r and head and embraces a rearwardly-m iding shank F, which is located in the hohow draw-bar and. is provided at its rear end with a downturned part f, which extends downwardly through bar. Said shank is held from rising by means of a cross-pin f, extending transversely through saiddoivnward cxtensionoftheshank. he openingiais made considerably longer and wider than the downturned part of the shank, thereby affording a loose connect-ion between the said member and the draw-bar longitudinal axis as will hereiiml'i'vr more fully appear. The forward endof said memand over the knnckle tailpicce, a forwardly E nected with said locking-pin.

and laterally curved arm F, which has rocking engagement 1n a bearingsocketor recess in l piece and located a distance to one side of the tailpiece. By reason of the engagement of the lockingpin with the actuating member on the side of thelatter remote from the bearing-arm'li the lifting of said locking-pin acts to rock the said member in the bearing 7) (the loose connection of the shank of said member with the wall of the draw-bar permitting such action) and said rocking movement of the bearing-arm serves to swing the lower end of' the knuckle-actuating arm F toward and in engagement with the tailpiece of the knuckle in a manner to throw the knuckle in its open position when the locking-pin is completelyraised, the widened upper part of the locking-riih-being at this time raised above the tailpiece of the knuckle. The horizontal web portion F of said actuating member is joined to' the shank F by means of a vertically-curved connecting part F.

Means are provided fol-preventing the locking-pin accidentally rising a distance to permit the releaseof the tailpiece of the knuckle. Said means are made as follows: I)" designates a lifting-bar which is located in an upwardly-opening pocket or recess (7 in the upper end of the locking-pin. Said lifting-bar is pivoted at its lower end to the locking-pin by means of a cross-pind, which fits. closely in a transverse aperture in the lower end of the lifting-bar andengages vertical slots 1:" in the opposite wall of the hollow portion of the locking-pin, whereby said lifting-bar has a limited vertical movement with respect to the locking-pin. Said lifting-bar extends upwardly beyond the upper end of the lockingpin and is provided withan openingJ" 'adapted to be engaged bythe' hook of a liftingchai nand is also provided above said upper end of said locking-pin with a flange 1. which projects oier said end of the locking-pin and limits the downward movementot' the liftingbar in said pin. Ddesignatesa pivoted stoplatch, which is located in said pocket 1/" of the locking pin at one side of th'c lower end of the lifting-bar. Said latch is provided at its lower end with a transverse lug 11"",Whh'h engages an openingin the wall of the locking-pin below the pivot-pint!" of the liftinghar, whereby said stop-latch is pivotally con- Said slop-latch is also provided with a slot 0", through which extends the pivot-pin a!" of the lifting-bar, The stop-lairh D. is so arranged with respect to the lifting-bar that the slot a thereot IIO when the lifting-bar is in its lowermost ph'sition, is disposed at an angle tothe longitudinal airis of the lifting-bar D tionsthe upper end of the stop-latch is located beneath the stop-pin -E, wherebyif the locking-pin as awhole be accidentally raised, as

. by the: stop-pin lease the knuckle.

by shocks or ars brought upon the coupler,

upward parts is such, however, that if the locking-v pin is raised thereby, and during such rela- :tive movementof the lifting-bar the pivotpin thereof acts through the medium of the said latch;

toward the lifting-bar and fitting-bar sufiiciently to release of the knuckle.

pin be raised through the medium of the lifting-bar I) the stop-latch is swung laterally- "out of line with the stop-pin E, so as to pe-r-' rnit the pin to be raised to its full extent.

"This action is due to the fact that. the lifting-J bar has a limited uertical movement-with respect to-the. lockihgpirr before the locking;-

oblique slot of the latch to swing I out of line with the stop-bolt E. After end of-theslot o l of the stop-latch thealocking-pin is lifted through the medium of the the tailpiece The operation of the device described and the 'advantagesarising from the employment of the several features thereof will appearfrom the/following: When the knuckle is .in. its closed position, asshown inFigs. 1- and 3,' the curved extensionC of the tailpiece oc-.

cupies the recess b. The widened upper part of the locking-pin is located in. the path of the knuckle-tailpiece:and engages the sur- -face 0 of the knuckle-tai ieee, so as to pro-- vent the knuckle from swinging outwardly.

At this time also the knuckle-actuating arm F of the bearing-arm-F of-the tailpiece of the knuckle and desired to .set the parts -to permit the train lifte The pm lifted until the shoulder 42' is hroughtto the level of the supporting-surfacein the lower wall ofthe draw-bar. Owing-mo the fact that the pivot-pin of the lifting-bar is located 'n rear of the longitudinal medianfline of the locking-pin, the upwardpull uponthe piri reaches the levelof said supporting-em Furthermore, when said parts arein their lowermost posi- :supportedon said extension. It follows from this construction said pivot-pin is moved upwardly into engagement with the.

occupies .a vertical positionparallel with the adjacent side face located at a distance from said tailpiece; .Ifit be as- 'sumed that the car to whichthe' coupler is attached isincluded in a train and it is be. -ing'-arm Fthereof toward broken or uncoupledthelocking-pinDis by means of thelifting-bar'Dthereof, which permits the safety-latch to pass the stop-pin E in the-manner before described.

bartends to swing the lower end otthe-pin' Avardly, and. when the shoulder d of the said surface and: the pin is supported thereby. At the time said shoulder d 'is' engaged with said supporting-surfaced the draw-bar the widened upper portion is raised .above the level of the tailpiece of the knuckle, as shown in Fig. 2. Upon aseparation ofathe cars connected'by said coupler I the knuckle Cis swung outwardlyby engagement'with the compamon knuckle of theadjacent coupler the tailpiece of the knuckle and the extension thereof passing outwardly beneath the shoulder 11" of the locking-pin.

'D of the locking-pin 1 As before stated, said laterally-curved exten I sion 0' of the atailpi'ece does not in the-opening of the knuckle pass :from

beneath the During the outward swing of-the, knuckle-tailpiece the cam projection Cthereof engages "the lower narrow part of the. locking-pin and swings saidxpin rearwardly out of engagement with --the supporting-surface therefor,said pin dropping dow nwardly. with the shoulder d thereof in engagement with the-topof the curvediextension of the tailpiece, whereby the pin is that when the knuckle is thrown'inwardly in the act of'again coupling the car to which .the coupler is attached the tailpiece of the knuckle is'free to swing be-- neath thesaid shoulder 11'- until. thepart'c of said tailpiece passes said shoulder, at which v time the locking-pin drops to :its. lowermost position and locks said; knucklelclosed until the pin is againraised. If in themeantime between the uncoupling of ;two cars :and therecoupling thereof the coupling-pin be raised either maliciously or otherwise, so that the pin is-suppo'rted on the supporting-surface and is lifted with the shoulder d thereof above the extension of the tailpiece, said pin will be engaged during'the coupling operation by the'cam projection- G and released from its elevated position and allowedto drop to its lowermost position when the knuckle-tailbebrought latter outwardly until the locking-pin is raised somewhat higher than the position shown in Fig. 2. Y

If it be. assumed that it is desired, to set a coupler of an unattached car in position to be if automatically coupled to a companion coupe] ler of another car, the operation of the device is as;follows: The lifting-bar D? of the locking-pin is lifted, either ual engagement or by the use of an ordinary .litingchain. The first effect of' lifting the 1 :bar :D is to shift rthe stopdatch D thereot. forthrough direct man- -S thrust the'lower end wardly out of lir'ie with the stop-pin E to per- .mit the latch to be lifted above said stop-pin. Aft cr'the lifting-bar pivot-pin d has shifted s'aidlatch out of alinement with the stop-pin "E and the-pivot-pin d is brought into contact -With. the upper end of the slot d said locking-pin is lifted 'above'the level of the upperface of the tailpiece. Thereafter in the continned rising movement of the locking-pin the angular or rocking movement of the actuating member F is continued and the actuatingarm F is forced against the tailpiece, with the result of swinging the knuckle outwardly into 5 theposition shown in Fig. 4. After the lockingpin has been raised to fully open the knuckle thelocking-pin isdropped until the shoulder (Z thereof rests upon the extension 0? of thetailpiece, which extension acts as a" 3 support for the locking-pin to' holdit in this a position. r

The extreme end of said extension 0 of the tailpiece is located at a slightly lower level than the upper side of the rear end of the tailpiece, whereby when the shoulder d of'the locking-pin rests onthe said projeetionthe shoulder 0Z of the locking pin is located slightly below the supporting-surface a on the draw-bar, so that when the knuckle is moved 4 inwardly in the operation of coupling two cars the pin is free to dropdownwardly into its lowermost position after said tailpiece has passed said-shoulder a? of the locking-pin. If, however, the locking-pin should be raised after the parts have been set'in the position "shown in Fig. 4, so as to bring the'shoulder 0Z in contact with the supporting-surface of z the draw-bar, the cam C on said tailpiece when the tailpiece is moved inwardly acts to of said pin out of engagement with'the lower wall of the drawbar, so as to permit the pin to drop into its lowermost position.

An advantage of extending the shank F of 5 5 the actuating .member rearwardly into the drawar and connecting the same with the bottom wall thereof in the manner shown is thatin case the head of the draw-bar be broken in rear of the front end of theactuating membersaid actuating member will prevent said broken part from falling onto the track with a liability of derailing the cars of the train.

I claiin as my inventiOn- 1. The combination witha hollow draw-bar 5 anditsheadand ahorizontaliy-swinging knuc-.

kle having a rearwardly-directed tailpiece, of

a horizontally rocking, knuckle actuating member having bearing in the head, a de- -pendingknuckle-actuating arm on one side of said member, a look at the other side of said 7 -member which is adapted to stand in the path of the tailpiece to lock the knuckle closed, a

,rearwardly-directed shank having loose consame time to rock said knuckle-actuating member in a manner to swing the knuekle-actuating arm against the tailpiece and thereby open the knuckle. 8O

2. The combination with a draw-bar head, a

horizontally-swinging knuckle, and a lockingpin which is lifted to release the knuckle, of

an actuating member which is loosely connected at its rear end with the draw-bar, and 8E provided at its forward end with a forwardly and laterally directed arm which has bearing in the wall of the head and is provided with a knuckle-actuating arm, and interlocking connections between said locking-pin and said actuating member, whereby, when the locking-pin is lifted, said member is rocked to swing the knuckle-actuating arm toward and against the tailpiece of the knuckle.-

3. The combination with a draw-bar head, a

. horizontally-swinging knuckle and a lockingpin which is lifted to release the knuckle, of an actuating member which is loosclycon- .nected at its rear end with the draw-bar and provided at its forward end with a forwardly ,and laterally directed arm which has bearing in the wall of the head and provided with a knuckle-actuating arm, and an arm or lug on .said member WhlCll engages a horizontal groove in the adjacent face of the locking-pin, whereby, when the locking-pin is lifted, the actuating member'is rocked and the knuckle- .actuating arm thereof swung outwardly toward and into contact with the tailpiece of the knuckle;

4'. The combination with adraw-bar head, a horizontally-swinging knuckle and a locking- IIO pin which is lifted to release the knuckle, of an actuating member provided with a rearxwardly-directed shank having a downturued 5 portionwhich fits loosely in an opening in the draw-bar, said member being provided at its .forwardend with a forwardly and laterally directed arm which has bearing in the wall of the draw-head and is provided-with a knuckleactuating arm, and interlocking connections between said locking-pin and said member, whereby,'when the coupling-pin is lifted to release the knuckle, said member is rocked and the said knuckle-actuating arm is swung" 12K outwardly toward and against the tailpiece of the knuckle.

5. The combination with a draw-bar head, a horizontally-swinging knuckle provided with a rearwardly-extending tailpiece and a lock- 13 ingpin which is toreleasethe knuckle,

of an actuating member which islocated over the tailpiece of the knuckle when theknuckle is in itsclosed position, aadie'ilooseiwconnected at its rear endwith the draw-bar, said actuating member being provided'with' a lat-. erally and forwardly directed arm which has bearing in the wallofthe head adjacent to said tailpiece, a downwardly '-extend ing' knuckleactuating arm onsaidbearing-arm', and interlocking connections between said-locking-pin and the actuating member,-whereby,-when the locking-pin is lifted to release the knuckle,

said member is rocked in its bearin'gin a man-, ner to swing the knuckleactuating arm outwardly toward and against the tailpieceof the knuckle.

' 6. The combinationwit h a draw-bar head, a

- horizontallyswinging knuckle having a rearwardly-directed tailpiece and a, locking-pinwhich is lifted to release the knuckle, of an actuating member which is loosely connected at its rearend with 'the draw-bar, and provided at its forward end witha forwardly and Y laterally directed arm which has bearin in the wall of. the head, a depending knuc lea actuating arm on -s'a id. bearing-arm which is normally located a distance from the tailpiece of the knuck and interlocking connectionsbetween said locking-pin and said member, whereby whenv the pin is lifted, actuating member is rocked in its bearing-"arm'to swing the knuckle-actuating arm thereof outwardly toward and against the tailpiece of the as r knuckle. I

-7. The combination with a draw-bar head, 'a

horizontally-swinging knuckle provided with a rearwardly directed tailpiece and aloe];-

ing-pin,said pin being provided with a widened upper part which is located in the path of the tailpiece, of the knuckle and with a downwardly-facing shoulder between said widened upper part and the narrower lower part ofthepin, of an actuatingmember which is loosely connectedv at its rear end with the draw-bar and provided .with a laterally. and

,forwardly directed arm which engages a bearing in the wall of the head, a depending knuckle-actuating arm on said bearing-arm which is normally located a distance from, the tailpiece of the knuckle, and interlocking connections between the locking-pin and said actuating member acting, when the 1 pin is lifted, to rock said actuating member and swing the actuating-arm toward and against the tailpiece of the knuckle, said actuatingarm being adapted to engage the knuckle-tailpiece at the'timethe shoulder .of the pin is raisedabove the level of the tailpiece. r.

8'. The combination with a draw-bar head, a

' horizontally-swinging knuckle having'a rearwardly-directed tailpiece, and a locking-pin which is lifted to release the knuckle, and ineanscfor preventing the locking-pin accidentally rising, ofv a horizontally-rocking actuating member having on one side an arm which has bearing engagement in the head, a dependihg knuckle -actuating arm on said bearing-arm, and interlocking connections between said pin'and the side of the actuating member remote from the knuckle-actuatingarm, whereby, when the pin is lifted, said arm is swung toward and against the tailpiece of the knuckle in a manner to open the latter. 9. The combination with a draw-bar head, a

is located in the path of the tailpiece, -of,a stop latch pivoted to the locking-pin adapted ing-bar pivoted to'the locking-pin and having swing the same out j of alinement with the locking-pin to be lifted out of the path of the knuckle-tailpiece.

' horizontally-swinging knuckle provided with 'a tailpiece, and a locking-pin having a part which is located in the path of the tailpiece, of a stop-latch pivoted to the locking-pin and h a lifting-bar provided with a pivot-pin which engages a slot in the locking-pin, thereby permitting relative vertical movementof the locking-pin and lifting-bar, said latch being provided with an oblique slot engaged by said lifting-bar pivot-pin, whereby, in the limited movement of the lifting ba'r, the latch stop of the head.

horizontally-swinging. knuckle provided with,

' lease the tailpiece, a pivoted stop-latch on said locking-pin adapted to engage a stationary of the pin sufficiently to release the knuckle, and means operated by the lifting of the pin to swing the latch out of line with the said stationary stop, of a rocking knuckle-actuatof said pin to'engage said tailpiece in a manner to open said knuckle.

' 12. The combination W1 and a locking-pin provided with a wide upper ber whichis operated through the lifting of the pin to act on said tailpiece in a manner to open the knuckle, said lateral extension of the tailpiece, when the knuckle is open, engaging ing said locking-pin.- e

stationary stop of the head to permit the- 10. The combination witha draw-barhead, a

isswung out of line with the saidlsta'tionary atailpiece, a locking-pin which is lifted to re said shoulder of the locking-pin and support member'is rocked and the knuckle-actuating horizontally swingi ng knuckle provided with a tailpiece, and a locking-pin having apart which to engage a stationary stop in the head, a lift-r a limited ,vertical movement with respect thereto, said lifting-bar acting on the latch to I ,ada ted'to engage a stationarystop in the y 11. The combination with a drawbar head, a

stop inthe head to prevent accidental-rising 7 ing member'which is actuated by the lifting I 13. The combination'with a draw-bar head, and a locking-pin, of a horizontally-swinging knuckle provided with a tailpiece having a laterally-directed extension, said locking-pin being providedwith a wide upper part located in the path of the tailpiece and ,providedbetween said Wide upper part and the lower narrower part of the pin with a downwardlyfacing shoulder, a shoulder on the narrower partof the pin adapted to engage a supporting-suri'ace of the draw-bar head to hold the first shoulder oi the pin above the level of the tailpiece, and means for shifting the lower end of the pin rearwardly when the knuckle is swung outwardly to drop the pin on the extension of the tailpiece.

14. The combination with a draw-bar head, and a locking-pin, of a horizontally-swinging knuckle providedwith a tailpiece having a laterally-directedextension, said locking-pin being provided was" a wide upper part located inthe path of the tailpiece and provided between said wide upper part and the lower narrower part of the pin with a downwardlyfacingshoulder, a shoulder on the narrower part of the pin adapted to engage a supporting-surface of the draw-bar head to hold the first shoulder of the pin above the level of the tailpiece, and a cam-surface on the tailpiece adapted to act on the lower end of the pin when the tailpiece swings outwardly to shift the lower end 'of the pin rearwardly to permit said pin to drop with the shoulder between the wider and narrower parts of the pin resting on said extension of the tailpiece.

15. The combination with a draw-bar head, and a locking-pin, of ahorizontally-swinging knuckle provided with a tailpiece having a laterally-directed extension, said locking-pin being provided with a widened upper part which is located in the path of the tailpiece and provided be'tweenthe widened upper part and the lower narrower part of the pin with a downward ly-facing shoulder, of an actuating member which is operated through the lifting of the coupling-pin to swing the knuckle outwardly to open the same, a shoulder on the narrower part'of the pin adapted to en-' gage a supporting-surface on the draw-bar head to,hold the first shoulder of the pin fabove the level of. the tailpiece, and a cam projection on the tailpiece adapted to engage the narrower part of the pin when the knuckle is -swung outwardly to permit said pinto drop with said first shoulder on the extension of the' tailpiece.

18. The combinationwith a draw-bar head and a horizontally-swinging knuckle having a tailpiece, ofa pin having a wide upper part located in the path of the tailpiece and adapted to be raised above the level* of the tailpiece, auactuating member which is set in motionby the locking-pin when said wide upper part thereof is lifted-above the level of. the tailpiece to swing the knuckle outwardly, and 5 means for preventing the locking-pin accidentally-rising comprising a stop-latch pivoted to the'pin and adapted for engagement with a stationary stop of the head, and alifting-bar pivoted to the stop-latch and constructed, when lifting power is applied to the bar to-swing said stop-latch out of line with the stationary stop, to permitthe pin to'be fully raised. i

17. The combination with a draw-bar head,a horizontally-swinging knuckle provided with a rearwardly-directed tailpiece having a laterally-directed extension, and a locking-pin having a wide upperipart located in the path of the tailpiece, of an actuating member operated by the raising of the locking-pin to throw the knuckle open, and ashoulder on the locking-pin adaptedto rest on the tail piece extension-when the knuckle is thrown outwardly and thereby hold the wide part of the pin above the level of-the tailpiece.

18. The combination with a draw-bar 'headand a horizontally-swinging kn uckle having a rearwardly-extending tailpiece,provided with a laterally-curved extension, of a locking-pin which is provided with a wide upper part located in the path of the tailpiece and with, a

shoulder between the wide upper part and the lower narrower part of the pin, said shoulder on the pin resting on the extension of the tailpiece when the knuckle is opened, whereby a the knuckle may be automatically closed without lifting said locking-pin.

19. The combination with a hollow draw- I bar and its head, a horizontally-swinging knuckle having a rearward ly-directed tailpiece, and

a locking-pin, of a horizontally-rocking actuating member which has rocking bearing in said head, a shank on sald actuating member which extends rearwardly into said hollow draw-bar and is provided with a part which extends through an opening in the wall of the draw-bar, a knuckle-actuating arm on said actuating member and operative connection be- 20. The combination with a draw-bar head, a-

swinging knuckle provided with a tailpiece, and a locking-pin having a part located in the path of said tailpiece, of a stationary stop on said head, a movable stop on the locking-pin adapted to engage the stationary stop to prevent accid ental shifting of the locking-pin in a manner tocrelease the knuckle, means for shifting said movable stop to permit movement of the pin .suflicient to release the knuc--- kle, and a fixed. shoulder on the pin adapted to engage the stationary stop to prevent complete withdrawal of the'pin from the head.

21. The combination with a draw-bar head, and a locking-pin, of'a horizontally-SWinging knuckle provided with a tailpiece which ex-' tends rearwardly into said head, said lockingpin being provided witha wide upper part located in thepath of the tailpiece when the pin is in its locking position, a supportingsurface on the draw-bar headadapted to be engaged by a. downwardly-facing shoulder at the lower end of the pin to support the pin in its unlocking position, and a cam-surface on the tailpiece adapted to act on the lower end of the pin to shift said lower end rear- I wardly to permit the pin to drop into its unlocking position. v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as iny invention I'afiix my signature, in presence I 5 of two witnesses, this 29thdayof May, A. D. 1902. r 

